NYT Spelling Bee Answers & Hints — August 16, 2026
- 52Total words
- 257Total points
- 180Genius
- 2Pangrams
The pangram for August 16, 2026
Every letter used at least once — worth a bonus 7 points on top of the length score.
Letter by letter
9 letters · tap any tile to reveal just that letter.
Spelling Bee hints for August 16, 2026
Three levels of help, gentlest first — take only as much as you need. Skip straight to the answers →
Words per starting letter
The gentlest nudge — which letters do the heavy lifting today.
Two-letter tally
How many words start with each pair — if a pair isn't here, nothing starts with it.
- be2
- bl1
- bo2
- ce7
- cl7
- co15
- cu7
- de6
- ed2
- lo1
- oc2
Word length grid
The most specific spoiler-free hint — hunt a missing word by its length.
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 5 |
| C | 12 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 1 | – | 36 |
| D | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 6 |
| E | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 2 |
| L | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| O | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
| U | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 |
| Σ | 15 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 52 |
Spelling Bee answers for August 16, 2026
The full word list, grouped by length — pangram first, then longest to shortest. Tap a group to reveal.
P
- beclouded16
- becloud14
8
- colluded8
- occluded8
7
- cellule7
- clouded7
- clubbed7
- cobbled7
- coddled7
- collude7
- cuddled7
- decoded7
- deduced7
- occlude7
6
- boucle6
- celled6
- cobble6
- coddle6
- cooled6
- coulee6
- cuddle6
- culled6
- decode6
- deduce6
- educed6
5
- bocce5
- ceded5
- celeb5
- cello5
- cloud5
- clued5
- coded5
- cooed5
- could5
- cubed5
- deuce5
- educe5
4
- bloc1
- cede1
- cell1
- clod1
- club1
- clue1
- code1
- coed1
- cold1
- cool1
- cube1
- cued1
- cull1
- deco1
- loco1
Today's puzzle by the numbers
Difficulty, rank thresholds, pangram etymology and what makes today unusual.
Difficulty
4/ 10
This is a moderately easy Sunday puzzle that leans accessible. At 52 words against a historical average of 44, there is more to find than usual, but the letter set is generous with familiar consonant clusters and common endings that reward methodical solvers. The two pangrams share a close structural relationship, so landing one makes the other feel within reach. The main challenge is squeezing out the longer doubled-consonant forms and a couple of technical vocabulary words hiding in plain sight.
Points per rank
| Rank | Points | % |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Bee 👑 | 257 | 100% |
| Genius | 180 | 70% |
| Amazing | 129 | 50% |
| Great | 103 | 40% |
| Nice | 64 | 25% |
| Solid | 39 | 15% |
| Good | 21 | 8% |
| Moving Up | 13 | 5% |
| Good Start | 5 | 2% |
| Beginner | 0 | 0% |
About the pangram
beclouded16 pts
The past-tense and participial form of BECLOUD, carrying the same Old English 'be-' + 'clūd' ancestry; its use as an adjective meaning 'rendered obscure or confused' appears in literary prose from the Romantic era onward, though it has remained rare enough that it debuts in the Spelling Bee archive with this puzzle.
Puzzle facts
- Longest word9 letters
- 4-letter words15 of 52
- Pangram bonus+7 points
- Puzzles archived85
Try another puzzle
Two more NazoKai hints, ready when you are.